Vancouver resident Glenna Scheidt shares her thoughts on the 3rd Congressional District race

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

Despite partisan divisions, misinformation, and the prevalent discontent with our current political system, I am proud to be an American. And I am thankful that I have the right to speak freely. I have the right to think freely. And I keep control of my vote by way of the secret ballot which means only myself and the Almighty know which box I checked.

Being an independent thinker, it is unusual for me to make my final decision about a candidate early in the campaign season. I listen to the candidates in forums and interviews and read information about each candidate published by the news media. Then I review what I learned. My due diligence as a citizen is complete, my concern about what is at stake in the vote for the 3rd Congressional District representative causes me to speak publicly now about my choice.

I choose reason over regurgitated rhetoric, collaboration over partisanship and working together toward inclusive solutions rather than destroying what it has taken this country over two hundred years to build, warts and all. Yes, we desperately need to revisit and rework the way we as a country do things. But anyone who thinks you can burn a house to the ground one day and have company for a sit-down dinner the very next day is seriously deluded. It takes patience, intelligence, and cooperation to achieve results that are respectful of our personal freedoms and our collective needs while being mindful of our diverse society and inclusive of those within that society.

I have chosen my candidate. Why? Because Marie Gluesenkamp Perez respects my right as a woman to make choices about my body. She believes in the “right to repair.” Discretionary spending dollars are not stretching as far as they used to and toxic waste from what has become a throwaway society is destroying our natural resources. More opportunities for local repair/refurbish services and facilities will keep locally repairable devices in service and out of our landfills, as well as supply employment for skilled trades.

But most importantly for me, she believes in listening to her constituency and working to get things moving forward in Congress. She is young, intelligent, approachable, and wise beyond her years. Please join me in voting for Marie Perez for Congress.

Glenna Scheidt
Vancouver

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